This is a sampling of the Third Reich items I inherited from my uncle.

All of my posts to date have centered entirely on United States militaria items, focused primarily on pieces from World War II. I could continue to write about this category entirely for many months to come, but to do this without any coverage on “enemy” artifacts would be a disservice to those who collect in these areas.

Collecting war prizes is hardly a new concept for soldiers, airmen or sailors as the practice of capturing a memento of the battlefield has gone on since humankind has met on the field of battle. I am assuming that readers here are familiar with the phrase “to the victors go the spoils,” which has its historical usage in nineteenth century American Politics. Political history aside, the phrase is an analogy of the taking of war prizes.

In the 2001 HBO series, Band of Brothers (BoB), Easy Company members (Company “E,” 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division) are portrayed seeking or attempting to acquire German Luger pistols as war prizes. The 9mm Luger pistol, known as the Pistole Parabellum 1908 which was designed by Georg J. Luger, was highly prized by Americans as an item to bring back home. In addition to the sought after pistols, some BoB characters are shown gathering other valuable artifacts such as silver services and place-settings.

Many other Third Reich items were also “liberated” by American G.I.s to share with family and friends, and with limited space in their packs, duffel bags and foot lockers, service members had to resort to creativity to get the larger items and significant selections of German artifacts home. When the GIs returned, presenting their Nazi daggers, flags and helmets to their kids to enjoy, Third Reich militaria collecting was launched.

Aside from U.S. items from the World War two era, Third Reich militaria is the most available of the period yet seems to routinely command considerably higher prices on the collector market. With the increased demand and greater investment come the opportunists seeking to prey upon the uneducated collectors. Some reproduction German uniform reproduction pieces are so well-made, minor tweaks by unscrupulous sellers can make a the garment quite convincing to newcomers.

I do not consider myself a collector of these artifacts, but that doesn’t mean that I have abstained from ownership of them. I am the fortunate recipient of several items that were shipped home from Europe in 1945. It seems that my uncle, a military intelligence officer, had filled several trunks full of his acquisitions ranging from a full silver service, personal effects and books from Hitler’s library to a nearly complete Schutzstaffel (SS) officer’s uniform and other military items, and sent them to his brother, my grandfather.

Everything remained in those trunks and stored in the attic until 1994 when we were preparing the house for sale. It was a situation that all collectors dream of as each piece’s condition was exactly as it was when it was packed in 1945. Nothing had been exposed to the elements or had been handled, leaving the artifacts in pristine condition. When we decided to sell some of the pieces, it took some effort to convince prospective buyers that everything was authentic due to their almost unbelievable condition.

As most of the pieces were sold, with the proceeds going to support the long-term care of my grandparents, however I did manage to keep some select pieces.